Latest news with #AIMission2027
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Goa's Grand AI Gamble: Inside the State's Ambitious AI Mission 2027
Goa has joined the AI race officially with the announcement of its AI Mission 2027, a grand vision to infuse artificial intelligence into public systems, governance, education, and entrepreneurship. With specific deliverables, international collaborations, and an emphasis on ethical deployment, the smallest Indian state is looking to be India's largest disruptor in the country's digital transformation process. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a landmark step towards future-proof governance, Goa has initiated a state-wide artificial intelligence mission named AI Mission 2027. Announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in July 2025, the mission represents a radical shift from Goa's historical branding as a tourist paradise to a smart, innovation-driven state ready to harness the power of technology for public benefit. Unlike sporadic tech interventions seen in various state departments across India, Goa's initiative is structured, goal-driven, and aims to build a state-wide AI ecosystem that could set the standard for other Indian states to AI Mission 2027 is about using artificial intelligence to enhance lives. The strategy is not just about the adoption of technology but about redesigning the way the government functions—speeding it up, making it smarter and citizen-centric. The government has identified five general areas where AI will be used: governance, public welfare, education, startups, and policy frameworks. These fields will witness deep AI tools and platform integration, backed by institutional support and partnerships with industry the aspect of governance, the mission targets automating day-to-day administrative procedures to save time, enhance accountability, and curb corruption. The vision is to move away from manual, paper-intensive processes to faster, data-driven algorithmic decision-making systems. A natural language processing-based smart grievance redressal platform is being piloted, and AI-powered chatbots are being launched to help citizens make their way through complicated government welfare services are also receiving a digital makeover. In healthcare, Goa is already experimenting with AI-based diagnostic tools to detect chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension at grassroots clinics early on. In agriculture, machine learning models are being deployed to offer predictive analysis on crop cycles and soil health, providing farmers with data they can act on. Even traffic control is becoming intelligent with AI-based surveillance and real-time analytics being introduced in Panaji and Margao to manage congestion and enforce traffic rules more of Goa's success will rest on its capacity to create and hold onto talent. Knowing this, the state government is working fast to promote AI learning at the school and college levels. In association with the National Skill Development Corporation and NASSCOM, the mission will provide AI modules in secondary schools, start certificate programs in technical institutes, and provide scholarships for AI research. Goa will train 50,000 students in skills relating to AI and startups at least 100 AI-based startups within Goa by the year Goa's response isn't only technological—it's also profoundly ethical. The government has clearly asserted that AI will be used responsibly, with measures to prevent algorithmic bias, data abuse, and transparency breaches. A special task force is tasked with developing frameworks that align with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) and other responsible AI principles. This will guarantee that citizens' data is safe and decisions made by AI systems are explainable and is also significant is the focus of Goa on collaboration. The state is not acting alone. It has enlisted the support of private players, academia, and think tanks to co-create. Microsoft and Google Cloud are participating to offer infrastructure, training, and AI toolkits for both government personnel and students. IIT Goa and IIIT-Hyderabad are guiding the research strategy and pilot implementation. Startups that operate in AI for social good are being encouraged with seed grants up to ₹25 lakh and mentoring from Goa's future AI Innovation approach is intentional. Goa is leveraging its small size and streamlined administrative framework. With less bureaucratic depth and a relatively modest population, it presents a low-risk lab for high-impact AI implementation. The Chief Minister himself has made the state a "living lab" for AI in governance—a space where India can test before rolling out there are challenges ahead. The success of AI Mission 2027 depends on execution, an area Indian public programs are not known to excel. Infrastructure will have to increase, particularly in rural India. Government officials will need to undergo rigorous training to employ and operate AI technologies. Procurement and finance systems will need to remain nimble to keep up with the pace of tech innovation. And most importantly, the project has to be maintained beyond political seasons, with bipartisan efforts to ensure the initial indications are encouraging. Pilot schemes are being initiated. Capacity building has started. MoUs with major stakeholders have been entered into. Most importantly, there is vision clarity—a public sector rarity—supported by KPIs, timelines, and a governance council to track AI Mission 2027 is not a mere digital upgrade, but a roadmap for governance transformation. If implemented on schedule, it may be a replicable model for other Indian states that wish to jumpstart into the era of artificial intelligence. It puts Goa at the confluence of public service delivery, innovation, and ethics—positioning it as one of the most visionary digital projects in the nation.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Coastal Charm To Tech Ambition: Goa Rolls Out AI Mission 2027
Panaji: The Pramod Sawant government has rolled out Goa AI Mission 2027, a visionary roadmap to build an inclusive and future-ready Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, officials said. The mission, a bold leap from Goa's laid-back coastal charm to cutting-edge tech ambition, aims to empower people, enhance governance and spark innovation across sectors, placing the state firmly on the digital transformation map, they said. In a recently held meeting, Chief Minister Sawant and state Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte appealed to stakeholders to work towards drafting the AI Mission 2027, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. Nearly 350 Information Technology companies and startups are operating in Goa, as per data from the IT department. Goa Information and Technology Director Kabir Shirgaonkar told PTI Videos that the state government's AI mission is derived from the Centre's ambitious India AI Mission. "We intend to meet various objectives through this mission, and one of them is create an inclusive and future-friendly AI ecosystem to empower citizens, enhance governance and support innovation across sectors," he said. The government's predominant focus under the Goa AI Mission 2027 would be on setting up Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) to increase compute capacity, Shirgaonkar said. "There's also the concept of an AI Coach. When talking about AI, datasets are very important. The Government of Goa will play an active role in preparing datasets, as you all know, the government possesses a vast amount of data, and these datasets will be critical when working with AI," he said. Shirgaonkar said the ethical use of AI will also be a major focus area as the Goa government moves forward. "Some of the major highlights of the Goa AI Mission include the formulation of a Goa AI Policy," he said, adding the AI Advisory Council has already been formulated. "The AI Advisory Council, a multi-stakeholder body, aims to provide strategic direction and ensure consistent implementation across domains. So, the first step is the formation of the council, followed by drafting of the Goa AI Policy," he explained. Shirgaonkar further said the focus will also include AI education, the setting up of Goa AI Labs, and the development of a Konkani Large Language Model (LLM). "As you know, language models are essential, and developing a Konkani LLM will be one of our key priorities. We aim to use AI to preserve and promote Goa's cultural and linguistic heritage through this locally built LLM in Konkani," he said. Specifically, the Goa AI Mission will rest on four core pillars -- skilling, startups and companies, capital, and government and infrastructure, the official said. "Under the 'skilling' pillar, we will target colleges and schools to ensure that AI education is integrated at all levels so that our future generation is AI-ready," he said. Amarsh Chaturvedi, co-founder of Neural Private Ltd in Panaji, said his is an AI first startup, working with enterprises to help scale their AI initiators with ease and comfort. "We are also glad to be a part of the AI state mission in Goa, which is one of the pioneering initiatives in the country," he added. Goa is one of the "very, very few states in the country" which is looking at AI and making the state ready for the future in technology, Chaturvedi said. He said the Goa AI Mission 2027 also aims at bringing together academia, industry, startups and the government to fulfil multiple objectives. "The first one being making the population of Goa AI ready, and this also entails skilling and reskilling people to work with AI, not just as users, but also creators," he said. The mission also includes building the core infrastructure to carry out foundational research, not just physical infrastructure, but digital infrastructure that could entail collaboration of academia in Goa with universities elsewhere in the world, Chaturvedi said. "So, from a holistic perspective, the intent is right and the steps that are being planned to undertake and fulfil the objectives of this mission are also in the right place," he added. Milind Prabhu, CEO of Genora Infotech Pvt Ltd, Goa, said he was very happy to hear about the state government's initiative. It is a great initiative as Goa is a preferred place for innovative work to be done and AI is the next tech innovation that is happening, he said. "So, it's a great thing that we are focusing on it," Prabhu added.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Goa govt rolls out AI Mission 2027 to boost governance and innovation
The Pramod Sawant government has rolled out Goa AI Mission 2027, a visionary roadmap to build an inclusive and future-ready Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, officials said. The mission, a bold leap from Goa's laid-back coastal charm to cutting-edge tech ambition, aims to empower people, enhance governance and spark innovation across sectors, placing the state firmly on the digital transformation map, they said. In a recently held meeting, Chief Minister Sawant and state Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte appealed to stakeholders to work towards drafting the AI Mission 2027, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. Nearly 350 Information Technology companies and startups are operating in Goa, as per data from the IT department. Goa Information and Technology Director Kabir Shirgaonkar told PTI Videos that the state government's AI mission is derived from the Centre's ambitious India AI Mission. "We intend to meet various objectives through this mission, and one of them is create an inclusive and future-friendly AI ecosystem to empower citizens, enhance governance and support innovation across sectors," he said. The government's predominant focus under the Goa AI Mission 2027 would be on setting up Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) to increase compute capacity, Shirgaonkar said. "There's also the concept of an AI Coach. When talking about AI, datasets are very important. The Government of Goa will play an active role in preparing datasets, as you all know, the government possesses a vast amount of data, and these datasets will be critical when working with AI," he said. Shirgaonkar said the ethical use of AI will also be a major focus area as the Goa government moves forward. "Some of the major highlights of the Goa AI Mission include the formulation of a Goa AI Policy," he said, adding the AI Advisory Council has already been formulated. "The AI Advisory Council, a multi-stakeholder body, aims to provide strategic direction and ensure consistent implementation across domains. So, the first step is the formation of the council, followed by drafting of the Goa AI Policy," he explained. Shirgaonkar further said the focus will also include AI education, the setting up of Goa AI Labs, and the development of a Konkani Large Language Model (LLM). "As you know, language models are essential, and developing a Konkani LLM will be one of our key priorities. We aim to use AI to preserve and promote Goa's cultural and linguistic heritage through this locally built LLM in Konkani," he said. Specifically, the Goa AI Mission will rest on four core pillars -- skilling, startups and companies, capital, and government and infrastructure, the official said. "Under the 'skilling' pillar, we will target colleges and schools to ensure that AI education is integrated at all levels so that our future generation is AI-ready," he said. Amarsh Chaturvedi, co-founder of Neural Private Ltd in Panaji, said his is an AI first startup, working with enterprises to help scale their AI initiators with ease and comfort. "We are also glad to be a part of the AI state mission in Goa, which is one of the pioneering initiatives in the country," he added. Goa is one of the "very, very few states in the country" which is looking at AI and making the state ready for the future in technology, Chaturvedi said. He said the Goa AI Mission 2027 also aims at bringing together academia, industry, startups and the government to fulfil multiple objectives. "The first one being making the population of Goa AI ready, and this also entails skilling and reskilling people to work with AI, not just as users, but also creators," he said. The mission also includes building the core infrastructure to carry out foundational research, not just physical infrastructure, but digital infrastructure that could entail collaboration of academia in Goa with universities elsewhere in the world, Chaturvedi said. "So, from a holistic perspective, the intent is right and the steps that are being planned to undertake and fulfil the objectives of this mission are also in the right place," he added. Milind Prabhu, CEO of Genora Infotech Pvt Ltd, Goa, said he was very happy to hear about the state government's initiative. It is a great initiative as Goa is a preferred place for innovative work to be done and AI is the next tech innovation that is happening, he said. "So, it's a great thing that we are focussing on it," Prabhu added.
